Reunion

I have resisted the urge to binge-watch so this is based on 3/4 Episodes. I found it to be Compelling, emotional..kept me glued to the screen. Unlike some reviews here, I thoroughly enjoyed the signing & the subtitles (I think it helps with subtitles if you are an avid speed reader anyway). The performances from the main characters, outstanding. However, the most important comment for me to add is that it really made me think & try to understand what it must be to be deaf. I recently lost my hearing for 2 days due to flying & I was SO frustrated with it. This drama has given me an insight i never had before. Well Done to everyone involved..its superb!

I only watched the first episode. Might have watched the rest but...not keen on the style of storytelling whereby the viewer is kept in the dark and everything hinges on the big reveal. The acting was fine, the dark vistas apt for the narrative. Did not quite understand how the daughter went from totally hostile to being seemingly won over by her dad in next to no time? Where is the irony you say? Well, the rundown looking flats where the protagonist's daughter lived, is Park Hill, which was renowned for being not somewhere you wanted to be after dark, back when I were a lad that is, today, the refurbished flats are the hangout of the young trendy. I gave it 7 so as not to bring the rating down as it was probably worth another watch.

This show really like to show the same stuff over and over again; flashbacks, recalls. I swear one episode I watched and I was thinking "haven't I seen this before?"... aahh another flashback!

It also runs the typical cliché of corrupt cop and bad childhood trauma.

The only original thing this show has going for it is that it has deaf actors involved. So perpare yourself for reading a lot of text instead of voices and a lot of hand signs, whispering or weird noises coming out of their mouths. Sometimes it's a bit funny and I had to laugh several times.

There are also a lot of stuff that annoyed me: The characters deliberately refuse to answer questions or talk about sertain topics because that would ruin the slow pace of the show.

Also how long does it take to track down one guy in a town? If I really wanted to find someone who still lived there I wouldn't spend days or weeks finding him. Maybe couple of hours.

There is also a stupid scene with a cop that is batantly corrupt in front of an interpreter as he is filmed on camera. He tries to hide this by turning off the voice recorder in the room. But what about the camera? He doesn't know he is being filmed?

The only thing keeping me watching it is the good acting, funny moments and I want to know what happens. I probably won't find out since this is a running show with no ending, so either it gets cancelled or dragged on for so long I will quit watching before the end.

6 / 10.

I binged watched this after the first episode. The storyline is gripping and the acting is superb. The signing is part of it and shows the difficulties of communication, tolerance and understanding for and of non hearing people and the effects this can have.

The lead actor is absolutely amazing and draws you in with a dark brooding performance making you want to know what he is going to do. The cast who learned to sign so effortlessly are also brilliant.

The quiet moments help show what it is like to not hear what is happening around you. As the story unfolds it is very emotional and thought provoking. Excellent drama.

Daniel Brennan is released after serving a ten year prison sentence for murdering his friend Ray. Brennan is keen to meet up with his daughter Carly and is desperate to find someone from his past.

A groundbreaking drama, my honest advice is to ignore the negative reviews, they simply do not relate to this incredible drama. The BBC isn't exactly at its best right now, but there's always a chance that it'll put out a classic series, Reunion is just that.

This deserves to be remembered for years to come, after a good first episode, it opens up in the most unexpected way, as soon as you get used to the formula, you'll be engrossed, I haven't seen anything as good as this for some time.

Mathew Gurney deserves an award for this, his performance quite simply, was breathtaking, in episodes three and four he actually had me in tears, unbelievable, I thought he was phenomenal.

The supporting cast are terrific, Peake, Duff, Marsan, Sims, the whole lot of them did a great job.

So good to be able to give a drama a perfect score.

10/10.